WO2019175757A1

WO2019175757A1 - Motorized recessed spotlight with link bar and crank drive system

Info

Publication number: WO2019175757A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/051979
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lawrence MAGHNAGI; Angelino TACCHI
Original assignee: Forma Lighting Italia S.R.L.
Priority date: 2018-03-15
Filing date: 2019-03-12
Publication date: 2019-09-19
Also published as: IT201800003599A1

Abstract

Motorized recessed spotlight comprising a light unit (1), a first longitudinal axis of rotation (X-X), and a vertical axis (Z-Z), characterized in that it comprises: - a substantially cylindrical base (10) comprising a first ring (11) for recessed 5 mounting in a ceiling or wall; - a cylindrical ring (20) integral with the light unit (1) and having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the base (10); the side surface of the ring (20) having, formed thereon, a bush (22) extending radially outwards and a through-hole (53) axially offset in the transverse direction (Y-Y) with respect to the longitudinal axis of rotation (X-X) 0 and designed to contain a pin (23a) projecting radially outwards; - a bridge-piece (30) comprising a first vertical upright (31) and a second vertical upright (32) which are connected at the opposite top ends by a longitudinal cross-piece (33); the two uprights being arranged opposite each other with respect to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (X-X); - a first motor (40) fastened to 5 the bridge-piece (30) and with a shaft (41) in the form of an endless screw parallel to the vertical axis (Z-Z); - first movement transmission means (50) comprising a link bar (52) and crank (53) arranged between the shaft (41) of the first motor (40) and the cylindrical ring (20) and connected to said two elements, so that the rotational operation of the shaft (41) of the first motor 0 (40) causes a rotation of the cylindrical ring (20), and therefore of the light unit (1), about the longitudinal axis (X-X).

Description

MOTORIZED RECESSED SPOTLIGHT WITH LINK BAR AND CRANK DRIVE SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a motorized recessed spotlight, with a link bar and crank drive system, designed to rotate about a longitudinal axis.

Various types of motorized recessed spotlights controlled by means of a remote control are known in the technical sector of lighting.

These characteristics are particularly useful in commercial premises, museums or hospitals, where frequent variations of the surroundings and/or lighting conditions require adaptation of the direction of the light beam emitted by the spotlight.

It is, however, also known that it is increasingly required that these spotlights should have small dimensions so that the light beam, and not the spotlight body, may be amplified, while at the same time remaining aesthetically pleasing.

Such a feature, however, is difficult to reconcile with the need to provide the spotlight with movement means which are able to allow rotations about at least one axis, and preferably several axes, but which at the same time cannot be seen by the user during use.

US 2016-169490 describes a spotlight according to the preamble of Claim 1 , in which the movement system is however bulky, complex and difficult to assembly and install.

The technical problem which is posed therefore is that of providing a recessed spotlight able to rotate about at least one axis, preferably two axes which are orthogonal to each other, and that of limiting the overall size of the drive system to dimensions such that it may be contained within the spotlight and is preferably invisible from the exterior.

In connection with this problem it is also required that such a spotlight should have small overall dimensions, be easy and inexpensive to produce and assemble and be able to be easily installed at any user location using normal standardized connection means.

These results are obtained according to the present invention by a recessed motorized spotlight comprising a light unit, a longitudinal axis of rotation, and a vertical axis; a substantially cylindrical base, with a first ring for recessed mounting in a ceiling or wall; a cylindrical ring, integral with the light unit and having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the base; a bridge-piece coupled to the base and comprising a first vertical upright and a second vertical upright which are connected at the opposite top ends by a substantially longitudinal cross-piece; the two uprights being arranged opposite each other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis; a first motor fastened to the bridge-piece and with a shaft in the form of an endless screw parallel to the vertical axis. The spotlight further comprises movement transmission means comprising a link bar and crank arranged between the shaft of the first motor and the cylindrical ring and connected to said two elements so that the rotational operation of the shaft of the first motor causes a rotation of the ring and therefore of the light unit about the longitudinal axis relative to the base.

The side surface of the base preferably has a first recess and a second recess which are respectively arranged in diametrically opposite positions and are open at the top in the vertical direction, the first and the second uprights of the bridge-piece each being joined to the base inside a respective said recess. According to preferred embodiments, it is envisaged that the side surface of the ring is provided with a bush extending radially outwards for connecting the transmission means to the ring, the first upright having optionally a free end having, formed therein, a through-hole in the longitudinal direction coaxial, during use, with the bush.

According to a further preferred aspect, the side surface of the ring has, formed therein, a through-hole axially offset in the direction transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of rotation and designed to contain a pin projecting radially outwards and inserted inside a substantially vertical, curved, through-slot in the first upright, so as to guide and limit the rotational movement of the ring.

The transmission means comprise preferably a joining piece having a female thread and provided with a pin extending outwards parallel to the longitudinal direction; and a mechanism comprising link bar and crank which are respectively pivotably mounted on the said pin of the joining piece and on the bush of the ring.

According to a further preferred aspect, the ring and the light unit can be rotationally actuated about said vertical axis by means of a second motor. Preferably, an annular rack with external teeth lies coaxially with the vertical axis of the cross-piece to which it is connected so that the rack is not prevented from rotating relative to the said cross-piece, and means for transmitting the movement from the second motor to the rack are present.

The rack may be fixed to a bridge-like cover so that rotation thereof relative to the said bridge-like cover is prevented. Further details may be obtained from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment of the subject of the present invention provided with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 : shows an exploded, partial, perspective view of a spotlight according to the present invention;

Figure 2: shows a perspective view of the spotlight according to the present invention partially assembled with the means for rotation about a first longitudinal axis of rotation;

Figure 3: shows a perspective view of the spotlight according to Fig. 2 assembled with further means for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation; Figure 4: shows a perspective view of the spotlight according to Fig. 2 assembled with the light unit inserted;

Figure 5: shows a partial perspective view from above of the spotlight according to Fig. 4;

Figure 6: shows a partial perspective view of the spotlight installed on an element suitable for fixing to a ceiling and/or wall;

Figs. 7-8: are side views of the spotlight in different positions rotated about a longitudinal axis;

Figs. 9-10: are side views of the spotlight in different positions rotated about a vertical axis; and

Figs. 11-12: are side views of the spotlight in different positions rotated about a longitudinal axis.

For greater clarity, the details which are conventional per se, such as electrical wiring and fixing elements, have been excluded from the figures.

As shown in Fig. 1 , for the sake of easier description and without a limiting meaning, three reference axes have been assumed, i.e. in a longitudinal direction X-X, corresponding to the widthwise dimension of the spotlight; in a transverse direction Y-Y, corresponding to the depthwise dimension of the spotlight; and in a vertical direction Z-Z, orthogonal to the other two directions and corresponding to the height of the spotlight; for easier description and with reference to the orientation shown in the figures, the longitudinal axis X-X is arranged coinciding with a first, horizontal, axis of rotation and the axis Z-Z is arranged coinciding with a second, vertical, axis of rotation.

As shown, a preferred example of embodiment of the motorized recessed spotlight according to the invention substantially comprises:

- a unit 1 (Fig. 2) having, arranged inside it, the electrical power supply devices and the source for emission of the light beam, the unit 1 being connected to connection and adapter elements 2,3 which are conventional per se and therefore not described in detail.

- a substantially cylindrical base 10, comprising:

- a first ring 11 for recessed mounting in a ceiling or wall;

- a side surface 12 with a suitable vertical height provided with a first recess 12a and a second recess 12b which are respectively arranged in diametrically opposite positions and are open at the top in the vertical direction Z-Z;

- a cylindrical ring 20 with an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the base 10 inside which it may be coaxially inserted; the ring has a bush 22 extending radially outwards; the side surface 21 of the ring 20 has, formed therein, a through-hole 23 arranged axially offset in the transverse direction Y-Y with respect to the longitudinal axis of rotation X-X; the hole 23 is designed to contain a pin 23a which, once assembly has been performed, will project radially outwards from the side surface 21 ;

- a bridge-piece 30 comprising a first vertical upright 31 and a second vertical upright 32 which are connected at the opposite top ends by a substantially longitudinal cross-piece 33; the two uprights are arranged opposite each other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X.

The cross-piece 33 has preferably a surface with:

opposite sides parallel to the transverse direction Y-Y with a respective seat 33a, 33b extending inwards, the two seats being situated opposite each other relative to a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X; a through-hole in the vertical direction being formed in a substantially central position of the cross piece.

The first upright 31 may have a free end 31a extending in the transverse direction Y-Y so as to form a first step 31 b arranged aligned with the seat 33a of the cross-piece 33 in the vertical direction Z-Z; the same end has, formed therein, a through-hole 31c in the longitudinal direction X-X and a substantially vertical, curved, through-slot 31 d for receiving, during use, the axially offset pin 23a projecting from the ring 20.

The second upright 32 has a free end 32a extending in the transverse direction Y-Y so as to form a second step 32b arranged aligned with the seat 33a of the cross-piece 33 in the vertical direction Z-Z and oriented in the transverse direction Y-Y in the opposite sense to that of the first step 31 b of the first upright 31 ; the same end may have, formed therein, a through-hole 32c in the longitudinal direction X-X, aligned in the longitudinal direction X-X with the hole 31c with the hole 31c of the other upright; the hole 32c is designed to receive a screw for fixing an electronic circuit 90; the same end of the second upright 32 may also have, formed therein, a through-hole 32d designed to receive a pin 32f for containing the ring 20 in the vertical direction Z-Z during rotation.

The ends 31 a, 32a of the respective upright have a respective transverse lug 31e,32e with through-holes, which form a preferred example of means for joining the frame to the cylinder 10 at the two diametrically opposite recesses 12b.

The seat 33a of the cross-piece 33 and the step 31b of the first upright 31 form a first receiving seat for:

- a first motor 40 fastened to the bridge-piece 30 and with the shaft 41 parallel to the vertical axis Z-Z; said shaft 41 is in the form of an endless screw;

- first movement transmission means 50 arranged between the shaft 41 of the first motor 40 and the cylinder 20 and connected to the two said elements.

In a preferred embodiment said transmission means 50 comprise: a joining piece 51 with a female thread 51a for engagement with the endless screw of the motor shaft 41 ; the joining piece 51 has a pin 51a extending outwards parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X; a mechanism comprising link bar 52 and crank 53 respectively pivotably mounted by means of associated pins 52a, 53a on the said pin of the joining piece 51 and on the sleeve 22 of the ring 20.

With this configuration a first mode of operation of the motorized spotlight is as follows:

- following assembly of the various parts with the motor 40 inserted in its seat of the first upright 31 , the frame 30 fastened to the cylinder 20, transmission means 50 arranged between the motor and the said cylinder, and the pin 23 inserted inside the respective hole 23 of the ring 20 and inside the curved slot 31 of the first upright 31 , and the spotlight fixed to a rail 4 designed to be fixed to a ceiling or wall:

the first motor 40 is operated so that its shaft 41 with endless screw, rotating in either sense, causes a corresponding displacement of the joining piece 51 in either sense of the vertical direction Z-Z, the joining piece correspondingly actuates the link bar 52 which causes rotation, about the pin 53a, of the crank 53 which forces the rotation of the bush 22 and therefore the cylindrical ring 20 in one sense (Fig. 7) or in the other sense (Fig. 8), about the first longitudinal axis X-X of rotation, causing a variation in the inclination of the light beam emitted by the spotlight; said variation being guided and limited in the two senses by rotational end-of-travel means, preferably comprising nuts coaxially fixed on opposite sides of the joining piece 51 on the endless screw 41 and/or the ends of the curved slot 31 d of the first upright, which form the end-of- travel stops for the projecting pin 23a inserted inside the said slot.

As shown, a preferred embodiment of the lamp according to the invention also comprises:

- an annular rack 70 with external annular teeth 71 , lying coaxially with the vertical axis Z-Z the cross-piece 33 to which it is connected by means of a stopper plug 72 which has a shank 72a with a smaller outer diameter and head 72b with a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the rack; the head of the stopper plug is fixed to the cross-piece 33 by means of screws so that the rack is not prevented from rotating relative to the cross-piece;

- a second motor 60 housed inside the seat formed by the second upright 32 and cross-piece 33 and with the shaft 61 oriented parallel to the vertical axis Z-Z;

- means for transmitting the movement from the second motor 60 to the rack 70, preferably comprising a cylindrical pinion 62 keyed onto the motor shaft 61 and designed to engage with the teeth 71 of the rack 70 (Figs. 4,5).

In a complete configuration of the lamp with rack 70 and second motor 60 assembled, the spotlight is fixed to the rail 4 on which a bridge-like cover 5 is also fixed, the rack 70 being fixed onto the transverse surface 5a thereof so that it is thus prevented from rotating relative to the rail; in this way it is possible to obtain a further mode of operation of the lamp as follows:

- operation of the second motor for rotation of the shaft 61 in one sense or the other causes the corresponding rotation of the pinion 62 which, meshing with the fixed rack 70, causes the frame 30 and therefore the light unit 1 to rotate about the vertical axis Z-Z in one sense (Fig. 9) or the other sense (Fig. 10). Operation of the two motors simultaneously or in succession results in combined rotations about the longitudinal and vertical axis as shown (Figs. 1 1 , 12).

According to preferred embodiments it is envisaged that the spotlight comprises:

- electronic means (not shown) for receiving radio signals emitted remotely by means of a remote control device and designed to control the operation of the motors 30,50 so as to allow the user to vary easily the direction of the light beam without having to physically access the spotlight;

- sliding friction means or prestressed spring means only schematically indicated by 80 and arranged between the axis 41 of the motor and the transmission 50 and/or between the shaft 61 of the motor 60 and the pinion 62.

It is therefore clear how, with the particular configuration of the spotlight according to the present invention, it is possible to perform motorized operation of the light unit about at least one and preferably two different axes or rotation, while limiting the overall dimensions, owing to the particular configuration of the frame and the cylindrical ring which allow the drives to be arranged projecting by very small amounts in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction; the overall dimensions are also limited in the vertical direction Z-Z, allowing the spotlight to be inserted inside protective covers 5 fixed to the support rails 4 and designed to allow stable recessed mounting of the spotlight in a ceiling or wall, while ensuring that the drives remain invisible from the outside, also in the case of small-size spotlights.

The spotlight is also formed by parts which are easy and inexpensive to produce and assemble and which may be easily installed at any user location by means of normal standardized connection means.

Although described in connection with a number of embodiments and a number of preferred examples of implementation of the invention, it is understood that the scope of protection of the present patent is determined solely by the claims below.

Claims

1. Motorized recessed spotlight comprising a light unit (1), a first longitudinal axis of rotation (X-X), and a vertical axis (Z-Z), comprising:

- a substantially cylindrical base (10) comprising a first ring (11) for recessed mounting in a ceiling or wall;

- a cylindrical ring (20) integral with the light unit (1) and having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the base (10);

- a bridge-piece (30) coupled to the base (10) and comprising a first vertical upright (31) and a second vertical upright (32) which are connected at the opposite top ends by a substantially longitudinal cross-piece (33); the two uprights being arranged opposite each other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (X-X);

- a first motor (40) fastened to the bridge-piece (30) and with a shaft (41) in the form of an endless screw parallel to the vertical axis (Z-Z);

characterized in that it comprises

- first movement transmission means (50) comprising a link bar (52) and crank (53) arranged between the shaft (41) of the first motor (40) and the cylindrical ring (20) and connected to said two elements,

so that rotational operation of the shaft (41) of the first motor (40) causes a rotation of the cylindrical ring (20) and therefore of the light unit (1) about the longitudinal axis (X-X) relative to the base (10).

2. Spotlight according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the side surface (12) of the base (10) has a first recess (12a) and a second recess (12a) which are respectively arranged in diametrically opposite positions in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (X-X) and are open at the top in the vertical direction (Z-Z), the first and the second uprights of the bridge-piece each being coupled to the base at a respective one of said recesses.

3. Spotlight according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the side surface of the ring (20) is provided with a bush (22) extending radially outwards for connecting the transmission means to the ring (20).

4. Spotlight according to Claim 3, characterized in that the first upright (31) has a free end (31a) which has, formed therein, a through-hole (31c) in the longitudinal direction (X-X) coaxial, during use, with the bush (22).

5. Spotlight according to Claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the side surface of the ring (20) has, formed therein, a through-hole (53) axially offset in a transverse direction (Y-Y) with respect to the longitudinal axis of rotation (X-X) and designed to contain a pin (23a) projecting radially outwards and in that the first upright (31) has a substantially vertical, curved, through-slot (31d) inside which said pin (23a) is inserted when the spotlight is assembled.

6. Spotlight according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-piece (33) has opposite sides parallel to the transverse direction (Y-Y) with a respective inwardly extending seat (33a, 33b), the two seats being arranged opposite each other relative to a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (X-X); and/or wherein a through-hole in the vertical direction (Z-Z) is formed in a substantially central position of the cross-piece.

7. Spotlight according to Claim 6, characterized in that the first upright (31) has a free end (31a) extending in the transverse direction (Y-Y) so as to form a first step (31b) arranged aligned with the seat (33a) of the cross-piece (33) in the vertical direction (Z-Z).

8. Spotlight according to Claim 7 characterized in that the second upright (32) has a free end (32a) extending in the transverse direction (Y-Y) and forming a respective step (32b) arranged aligned with the seat (33b) of the cross-piece (33) in the vertical direction (Z-Z) and oriented in the transverse direction (Y-Y) in the opposite sense to that of the first step (31b) of the first upright (31).

9. Spotlight according to Claim 8, characterized in that the same free end of the second upright has, formed therein, a through-hole (32c) in the longitudinal direction (X-X) designed to contain a screw for fixing an electronic circuit (90) and/or a through-hole (32d) designed to contain a pin (32f) for retaining the ring (20) in the vertical direction (Z-Z) during rotation.

10. Spotlight according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transmission means (50) comprise a joining piece (51) having a female thread (51a) and provided with a pin extending outwards parallel to the longitudinal direction (X-X); a mechanism comprising link bar (52) and crank (53) which are respectively pivotably mounted on the said pin of the joining piece (51) and on the bush (22) of the ring (20).

11. Spotlight according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ring (20) and the light unit can be rotationally actuated about said vertical axis (Z-Z) by means of a second motor (60).

12. Spotlight according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises an annular rack (70) with external teeth (71), lying coaxially with the vertical axis (Z-Z) on the cross-piece (33) to which it is connected so that the rack is not prevented from rotating relative to the cross-piece (33), means for transmitting the movement from the second motor (60) to the rack (70), the rack (70) being preferably connected to the cross-piece (33) by means of a stopper plug (72) which has a shank (72a) with a smaller outer diameter and a head (72b) with a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the rack; wherein the head of the stopper plug is fixed to the cross-piece (33), for example by means of screws.

13. Spotlight according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a bridge-like cover (5) on a transverse surface (5a) of which the rack (70) is fixed so that rotation thereof relative to the bridge-like cover (5) is prevented.

14. Spotlight according to one of claims 11-13, characterized in that said second motor has a shaft (61) parallel to the vertical axis (Z-Z).

15. Spotlight according to one of claims 12-14, characterized in that said means for transmitting the movement from the second motor (60) to the rack (70) comprise a cylindrical pinion (62) keyed onto the shaft (61) of the motor and designed to engage with the teeth (71) of the rack (70).

16. Spotlight according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises electronic means for receiving radio signals emitted remotely by means of a remote control and designed to control operation of the motors (30,50).

17. Spotlight according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a sliding friction system or prestressed spring means (80) arranged between one or both the shafts of the motors (40,60) and the respective movement transmission means (50;62).

18. Spotlight according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a rail (4) for fixing to a ceiling or wall, to which it is fastened by means of said base (10).